Rehashed departmental reports become mere braggadocio when the human
interest is lacking.
I had written perhaps one of the most vital chapters in American
history. So far as the department is concerned it will remain unsung.
My reward is in knowing I did it.
Its direct results were the taking over of ships, needed more than
money, and the appointment of a custodian of alien enemy property to
confiscate hundreds of millions of dollars' worth, expelling the Hun
and his kin from our frontiers and our industrial life for all time.
Though Howard was well past want, I felt for him. I suspected he was
even affluent again--you can't keep such a man from making money, even
on the barren Keys. I felt sorry for his wife, Norma Byng. Little Jim
had wound herself about me as had her wonderful father who sat
silently in the cabin of his boat looking wistfully at me. Maybe it
was because he made me her godfather and called her little Jim I felt
that the child was partly mine.
Howard, scourged into bitterness, was possessed with an inflexible
conviction that his beautiful wife had betrayed him. I had to be
extremely careful. I must wait for him to see the light as though from
within himself. Assuming a more cheerful attitude again, I asked:
"Howard, have you heard absolutely nothing of what has been going on
outside? I mean about your private matters."
"No more than if I was on another planet until now, when this man
appeared in my life again," he replied emphatically, "and you came as
I knew you would. And--and--well, you can see how I am fixed. How can
I tell little Jim my name is not Canby? How can I explain to her that
the fishermen named me Canby after the wrecked schooner, and I let it
go at that because I was practically insane for several years. You can
see how much she is to me now. I have been mother and father to her
since she was a year old. We are so near one, it makes me a coward, I
tell you."
"Life has certain responsibilities, Howard, we can't escape; perhaps
you have arrived at another turning point that calls for the big part
of you."
"Maybe so--maybe so--I can see now that you will need me as a witness
against these men. Our country is involved. I guess I must come out,
at least part way, from my isolation for that reason, even if it
kills. It's no time to slack against our Government," he said, more as
an audible thought, giving me my cue.
"Howard, you are right, your old English ancestors have never shirked
when their country needed them. They fought in the Revolution, they
battled with Indians and Mexicans, in the sixties they grappled with
their consciences, then later they went after Spain like tigers, and
now old Georgia is sending its best blood in hordes against the Hun
with a whoop and yell that cannot be mistaken. Even if they do like to
moonshine a little they fight for their country and that is the last
and best test."
His eyes glittered with a new kind of fire. I knew I had him.
"Have--have you been up the river--I mean where the plant is--where we
got the moonshiners that time?" I could see all that grew out of that
incident now flashed through his mind at the mention of moonshiners.
"No--but I have inquired several times. The land is raising cotton but
the paper mill is not running. I believe they have made no headway
with the stumps. All in all, it's not doing very well."
"Thought so," he replied, intensely gratified, "I could feel it," he
added, "and what has become of those that were my people?" he asked
with effort.
"I haven't had much information for seven or eight years, except this
man Ramund turning up. Potter went back to clerking in a bank. His
wife has soured on the world in general and taken on acid fat. The old
folks died."
"And----?" His pipe was laid aside and he held himself viselike and
looked the vital question.
"She is estranged from her sister and living quietly."
"Did you--have you seen her yourself?" he asked coldly.
"Yes, a long time ago, she was still beautiful, making her own living,
but, Howard, I believe--I know she is a good woman." I decided I could
not tell more then.
The effect of this information was magical. Though his eyes took on
the fire of the fierce Georgia Cracker, I believe he was ashamed of
it. He arose and walked out on deck and looked over the Gulf. It was
about time for little Jim and Don to return. Finally he returned and
sat down. He was learning to conquer himself.
"Wood--am I doing anything wrong--am I violating any law in robbing
that wreck?" he surprised me by abruptly changing the subject.
"You mean where you have been getting those copper bars?" I asked,
somewhat amused as the subject had never been referred to directly.
"Yes."
"No; on the other hand, you are doing a patriotic duty. If a wreck
floats, Uncle Sam is interested, but at the bottom, getting is
keeping. But, Howard, that is something of which I want some details.
I have been waiting for you to tell me. It's mighty important in this
case."
"I know it is. That's why I asked. The sunken submarine explains
mostly why Bulow and Company want to get rid of me. You see, I had
been a thorn to them for some time, for I had been taking the
spongers' trade. They have been loading vessels ever since the war
with such material as copper, cotton, and rubber. When they could not
fool the British by shipping through the Netherlands, they sent cargo
subs. They advertised one coming to a northern port, but that was
just to cover more extensive operations down here. Bulow and Company
picked up the stuff from all the Gulf ports. One was about loaded out
there by the Tortugas. Word was received that a Yankee destroyer was
coming, so she submerged to lay on the bottom until it left. But the
destroyer was attracted to the spot by the gulls waiting for possible
food, and let go two or three depth bombs, for luck. The sub never
came up. I located her in twelve fathoms of water. You know, a dive
without a suit lasts only four or five minutes, and it was a hard job
to get her open, but I did finally, and have been taking copper from
her ever since. The whole thing is there yet, dead sailors and all.
"When Bulow and Company learned that I knew of the wreck and suspected
I was salvaging that settled it. I had dangerous knowledge. They
wanted the wreck themselves. If I can get all that's in her I'll be
worth more money than I can ever use; even a small ship loaded with
copper and rubber has an immense value. Now do you understand why
they decided to sink me without trace? I never told little Jim just
what I was doing because I partly promised her I would not dive any
more, since the shark bit me on the leg and she saved me; and, again,
little Jim is so innocent and frank, as I want her to be, I was afraid
she might let it out."
"And you thought Bulow and Company was too strong for you, so you
never gave the Government information?"
"Yes, they have been powerful enough to keep me from getting goods
except in a roundabout way and at high prices, and have run everything
else down here to suit themselves. They felt they owned everything,
and, as you see, became very bold. How could I, without even a name,
beat them except by strategy? I wanted the copper and other things I
could salvage, so kept as quiet as possible.
"When little Jim told me about a salesman from a New York house being
here I was glad, and told her to buy, but I never fell for your stunt,
though I often thought of you. I believed as formerly Bulow and
Company would prevent the shipment even for cash in advance, they are
clever at managing such details as that. I understand they have the
Government's wireless and telegraph code besides their own men inside
that service."
"But you got the goods I sold you?"
"Yes, every item. Little Jim says the prices were much better. And,
more, the railroad did something they never did before--they stopped
the freight and unloaded them right at the back door." Howard laughed
outright for the first time. "How could I tell who it was? But, as I
said, I might have suspected something like that from you."
"Howard, is this sunken submarine intact?"
"Yes, entirely so as far as I can see. The crew seems to have died
suddenly. There are two openings in her--one at the conning tower,
that lets you into the engine room and crew's quarters, and a small
hatch, more of a manhole, pretty well forward, which opens into the
freight hole, evidently a separate compartment as it had not filled.
The great water pressure held it shut. I finally got in. There is
wonderful value there. I don't wonder the Huns want it. Once in the
crew's quarters was enough. It has filled and is not a very pleasant
place to go. I am used to about everything in the water when sponging,
except dead men."
"How many of the crew are there?"
"Well--I counted about twenty, but there may be more, and if you saw
them you would not think they were dead. One man stands up with his
eyes open in a listening attitude, the wireless man is before his
instruments, and the rest sit about perfectly natural. It seems as if
the captain knew they were done for and turned on gas or something
that killed them instantly."
"Howard, we can get those bodies, can't we?"
"Yes, if we go there fixed for it, but it won't be such a delightful
job. I shut it so the sharks wouldn't enter."
"I must have every one of them, and every piece of paper in her, the
cargo don't interest me with the exception of a few samples."